The 38th Ryder Cup was held 1–4 October 2010 at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales.
It was the 17th time the Ryder Cup had been staged in Britain, but the first time in Wales.
The tournament was played on the newly constructed Twenty Ten course, specifically designed for the event. The team captains were Colin Montgomerie for Europe and Corey Pavin for the United States.
With the U.S. as the defending champion, Europe won by a score of 14½ to 13½ and regained the Cup, its sixth victory in the last eight competitions.
Thousands of fans encircled the 17th green on a Monday afternoon at the Celtic Manor Resort, muscling for the best view of the final two gladiators of a marathon, yet mesmerizing 38th Ryder Cup.
After six-plus pulsating hours of the U.S. and Europe trading punches to determine which side would carry off a four-pound gold trophy, the pendulum swung to the last of 12 singles matches between Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, the reigning U.S. Open Champion, and Texan Hunter Mahan, one of many heroes of the 2008 Ryder Cup.
Coming down the stretch, McDowell made a big statement in a pressure packed arena by rolling in a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 16th hole to go 2-up.
After finding the green on the par-3 17th hole, McDowell watched as Mahan hit his tee short of the green, flubbed his chip and then after one last shot walked over to McDowell with hat in hand for a concession and a European victory.
It marked the first time since 1991 at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, that the Ryder Cup was decided by the final singles match.
This thriller was set up by contributions by America’s best players and a stirring rally from a four-hole deficit by 21-year-old rookie Rickie Fowler, the third youngest U.S. player ever in golf’s ultimate spectacle.
With a week of rain in Wales, the Ryder Cup was extended to a Monday finish for the first time in its 83-year history.